Social Justice News

CALLS TO ACTION

Jun 22, 2015 - Conscious Minds CampSpaces dedicated to youth empowerment are becoming fewer and fewer in this country. As youth, we face an unpredictable and scary future characterized by climate chaos and extreme inequality.

While Conscious Minds Camp will not solve these challenges, it will equip participants with the critical and creative thinking and resources they need to address them in a way that inspires hope and action.

The LIFT Youth Project is partnered with the Center for Social Justice. CSJ conducts research, education and advocacy on issues of equality and democracy.

We have raised $5,000 so far, and as long as we raise another $10,000, we will be able to make this camp happen! The budget we present to you here will make the camp an outstanding experience and we hope you will help us raise the full $25,000.

Jul 28, 2015 - Federal Election 2015 - Vote Health Care!Canadians share a deeply held belief that access to health care should not be based on how rich we are, but on our medical need. Most of us believe that our government will not purposely destroy public health care. But privatization is a serious threat and it would dismantle health care for all if we don’t stop it. The 2015 Federal Election is fast approaching but the Ontario Health Coalition can help you vote for public health care!

Currently, there are 4 key issues with Canada’s health care system. When we vote this year, we must ask our candidates to make 4 commitments to improve health care. The federal government of Canada must:

Jul 29, 2015 - Legal Defence Fund for Judy Da SilvaSince April, Grassy Narrows First Nation activist and grandmother Judy Da Silva has faced mounting legal costs from a CN railway lawsuit, meant to intimidate her and other Indigenous activists who are working to protect waterways from oil spills and contamination.

Please join us in challenging this corporate bullying tactic and supporting Judy’s work to protect the water by contributing to her legal defence fund. Our goal is to raise $10,000 in the next 2 months.

Judy was served with a lawsuit and injunction by CN railway on April 10, 2015 after she organized an Anishnaabe water ceremony near train tracks in Grassy Narrows. The ceremony was intended to protect waterways from contamination from train derailments. In the month prior to the ceremony, CN had reported three polluting train derailments.

EVENTS

In a period of great turmoil and hopelessness, the young people of Egypt – both Muslim and Christians – are increasingly intrigued by atheism. Egypt has been one of the most religious countries in the world for millennia is now experiencing an unprecedented growth in self-proclaimed atheists. How real and durable is this atheism? What role can it take in society and politics? And what can it realistically achieve in a country with an entrenched religious past.

Father Henri Boulad has worked extensively with the Christian and Muslim youth in Egypt and brings their aspirations and hopes for a better future for them and their country.

From August 3-7, people will be walking along the proposed Energy East pipeline route from Eagle Lake to Shoal Lake, drawing attention to the threats posed by TransCanada's proposed 1.1 million barrel per day Enegy East pipeline.

Following the existing path of a natural gas pipeline proposed for conversion to carry oil, the walk is in the beautiful Anishinaabek Treaty 3 territory, of northern Ontario and Manitoba. Treaty 3 territory has 30% of Ontario's fresh water and supplies Winnipeg with its drinking water.

The Anishinaabe walk is coordinated by the Grassroots Indigenous Water Defence that formed after Anishinaabe women in Treaty 3 territory saw a need to reach Anishinaabek communities about the risks presented by the project in a way that resonates with their world view as stewards of the land and protectors of water.

This film is based on a book of the same title by Peter Ackerman and Jack Duvall

* In the 1960s, Gandhi’s nonviolent weapons were taken up by black college students in Nashville, Tennessee. Disciplined and strictly nonviolent, they successfully de-segregated Nashville’s downtown lunch counters in five months, becoming a model for the entire civil rights movement.

* In India in the 1930s, after Gandhi had returned from South Africa, he and his followers adopted a strategy of refusig to cooperate with British rule. Through civil disobedience and boycotts, they successfully loosened their oppressors’ grip on power and set India on the path to freedom.

Sep 5, 2015 - [Aamjiwnaang] Toronto Bus to Toxic TourWhen: Welcome Feast and Speakers Friday September 4th, 5pm
Toxic Tour, walk through Chemical Valley - Saturday September 5th 12:00pm
Buses leave Toronto at 7am Saturday morning (and stay tunes, if there is enough interest we will book a bus to go up the Friday evening so we can attend the Welcome Feast)Where: Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Sarnia Ontario
Buses leaving Toronto from Christie Pitts Park and from Jane & Finch (register)

Chemical Valley is the climate and pollution crisis of Southern Ontario. It is where nearly 1 million barrels of tar sands are processed each day and where fracked gas is processed. It is a place of environmental racism: the Valley exists on stolen land, and its people are being slowly killed by pollution.

Ten years ago, a report surfaced that showed two girls were being born for every boy in Aamjiwnaang First Nation due to toxic chemicals emanating from industry in Chemical Valley. Since that time, more refineries have been built, more pipelines have spilled, and the community continues to be poisoned day after day, week after week, year after year. But Aamjiwnaang has fought back. Grassroots members have done speaking tours, petitions, lawsuits, rallies, blockades, scientific testing, and built networks of supporters to help share the story of what is happening to the lands and people. Join them in their fight against environmental racism, climate chaos, and extreme pollution.

ARTICLES

Jul 26, 2015 - What Next in the Greek Crisis?By Barry Finger

If the ongoing standoff between the Syriza government and the Troika of the European Union (EU), European Central Bank (ECB), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) could be boiled down to its essentials, it would be this: The “institutions” will only equip the Greek economy with enough operating funds to manage a bare-bones operation. And they will begrudgingly accede to this only if Syriza maintains a primary surplus and the neoliberal labour market reforms that the Troika judges necessary to keep the Greek economy, and other eurozone economies, competitive in the global market. The left-wing government must, in essence, demonstrate that its loyalty to the European bankers’ project takes precedence over its obligations to democracy.

A year ago this month, Israel commenced Operation Protective Edge, their third major assault on the Gaza strip since 2008. The response from Canada's political parties was a swift and unflinching support for Israel. The 51-day war, or rather display of modern mechanical butchery by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), killed 2,251 Palestinians, over two thirds of whom were civilians, including 500 children. More than 10,000 were injured. By comparison 71 Israelis were killed and only six of them were civilians. Roughly 500 Israelis were injured.

EMPLOYMENT

The two positions will be part-time for 12 weeks, 2 weeks preparation, 8 weeks of providing in-class support for Youthlinx participant and 2 weeks wrap up. There may be some addition hours at the end of each class. The class will be based at our office at 15 Gervais Drive (Don Mills & Eglinton area).

Please email applications to by noon July 31 2015 to Bushra Mir (bmir@laboureducation.org).